Barry County Man Indicted for Tampering with Evidence and Corpse Abandonment

In a both shocking and very disgusting case, Barry County officials arrested a Purdy man on a string of felonies after he allegedly helped others cover up the body of a man who’d been shot in the head. The biblical saga that has mesmerized surrounding communities is still playing out, unfolding a nightmare sequence of events that ended in the murder and mutilation of 55-year-old Marvin Lance McCullough of Aurora.

At the heart of all this felony situation is Nathan Wayne Bates, born in 1986, and currently facing serious charges: abandonment of a corpse and tampering with evidence in a felony case. These two offenses are the direct outcomes of his alleged activities following there having been a horrific crime committed in Verona, Missouri.

How It All Unfolded?

It was not until an interview, where Bates appeared with a detective on March 27, 2025, that it was finally divulged. Following the reading of his Miranda rights, Bates is accused of telling authorities that he had been called by a woman court papers naming her as “suspect #2.” She invited him to her camper in Verona, a remote residential area transformed into a foreign setting for this despicable crime.

Bates reported to authorities that when he came to the house, the woman admitted she was the one who fired the bullet that murdered the victim in the back of his head. In a case not peculiar enough, there was also another person with her a 46-year-old man from Exeter named Jimmy Taylor. Bates never claimed he witnessed the actual murder itself, but what he described later on has brought charges against him today.

Helping to Conceal the Crime

Bates went to the Verona camper three straight days, according to the probable cause report. On the third day, he claims, he helped the third suspect load Marvin McCullough’s body into the trunk of McCullough’s own car. Bates then hauled the car with the body inside in his own truck off the property.

The vehicle was driven to a remote location off Farm Road 1170, where Bates reports the third suspect torched it. This horrific cover-up stunt wasn’t long in coming to light.

March 20, the Barry County Sheriff’s Office was notified about 3 p.m. to report a vehicle on fire. Authorities searched and discovered a body in the trunk. They later identified the remains as missing person Marvin Lance McCullough through DNA analysis.

Others Charged in Connection

Since the accident death, others were implicated in the case. Brandy Coburn, 34, of Verona, the woman who allegedly called Bates for help and Jimmy Taylor, 46, of Exeter, have been charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, tampering with physical evidence, and abandonment of a corpse. They remain in jail pending trial.

These are very serious accusations with potential lifetime consequences, and with Bates currently facing felony charges of his own, the world waits to learn what becomes of the case within the Missouri legal system.

Arrest Warrant and Bond

An outstanding arrest warrant against Nathan Wayne Bates has been in effect, with the court posting a $100,000 cash-only bond for him, signifying how earnestly law enforcement authorities and the legal system believe him to have been involved in the cover-up. As yet, there has been no clue if Bates was under custody or was still free.

Community in Shock

For those in the Barry County community and surrounding areas, the situation surrounding this crime is almost impossible to comprehend. The victim was Marvin McCullough, a 55-year-old man of Aurora. While full details of his history are not known, his untimely death and apparent coordinated attempt to eliminate all records of the crime have people reeling and uncomfortable.

The idea that a person might be murdered, stuffed in the trunk of a car, and set on fire in an effort to make it look like it wasn’t a crime is terrible. The idea that there were more than one person involved, seemingly – no less than the act of murder itself, but efforts at covering it up is worse.

The Legal Road Ahead

As this case goes forward, prosecutors will have to determine the level of culpability for each suspect. Bates, although not indicted for being involved in an active capacity in the commission of the murder, is likewise in grave peril for his role in covering the body and helping to destroy evidence.

Corpse dumping in Missouri is more than a technical legalism – it’s an expression of public and moral outcry that human life can so callously be disregarded, even in death. Tampering with evidence in a homicide case is of great value in court because it actually undermines justice.

Seeking Justice

Ultimately, this is about bringing justice to Marvin McCullough and bringing to account those who were at fault in his death and what came after. The Barry County Sheriff’s Department investigation will continue, and there will be more as suspects will come before them for trial.

As justice is served, the citizens of and within Barry County are left to ponder the emotional toll of the crime. All anyone can do now is hope that justice has been served and something was learned from having to be right even under the deplorable circumstances.

Any individual who has additional information regarding this case is asked to contact the Barry County Sheriff’s Office.